Scientific Names of
Carnivorous Plants Explained
Taxonomy, hybrid formulas, cultivar names, and the codes that govern it all — from Linnaeus to Sarracenia × moorei
As you delve deeper into the world of carnivorous plants, you'll soon find yourself navigating a sea of Latin names, abbreviations, and cross signs. Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea, Dionaea muscipula 'Dentate Traps', Sarracenia × moorei, what does it all mean? And why do enthusiasts consistently use these names instead of common folk names? This article will explain the logic behind the scientific naming of carnivorous plants step by step.
Why not common names?
The problem with common names becomes immediately apparent if you give it some thought. The "venus flytrap" is quite unique in Dutch, but as soon as you start talking in English, German, or French, confusion quickly arises. Moreover, different plants can bear the same common name, or one plant can have multiple names in circulation.
Scientific names solve this: they are unique, international, and stable. A grower in Japan, a botanist in Brazil, and an enthusiast in Belgium all understand precisely the same plant when they read Sarracenia leucophylla. That is the power of the system introduced by the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century.
The structure of a scientific name
The basis is binomial nomenclature: each species is given a name consisting of two parts. Together, these two parts are unique to that species, worldwide.
Example of a scientific name
Below that, there are further levels of refinement, which you frequently encounter in the Sarracenia world:
| Rank | Example | When used? |
|---|---|---|
| Genus | Sarracenia | Group of related species |
| Species | Sarracenia alata (Alph. Wood) | The basic species; publication name in parentheses |
| Subspecies | Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa | Geographically or morphologically distinct population |
| Variety | Sarracenia flava var. atropurpurea | Recognizably distinct form, occurring in nature |
| Forma | Sarracenia flava f. viridescens | Small deviation, such as color mutation (e.g., anthocyanin-free) |
Taxonomy: a living science
Taxonomy is the science that classifies and categorizes organisms. What surprises many enthusiasts is that this classification is not static. As new information becomes available, often through molecular studies and DNA analysis today, classifications and thus names can change.
It is therefore quite possible that a carnivorous plant that currently has a certain species name may bear a completely different name in a few years. This is not a mistake or arbitrariness, but science evolving based on new insights.
Hybrids: two ways of naming
A hybrid is a plant with genetic material from two different parents. In Sarracenia, hybrids occur both in nature (where species grow side by side) and in cultivation. There are two correct ways to name a hybrid.
Method 1: The hybrid formula
You list both parent plants, connected by a multiplication sign. The female parent traditionally comes first.
Hybrid formula: female parent × male parent
Advantage: immediately clear which species are the parents. Disadvantage: becomes long with complex backcrosses.
Method 2: The hybrid name
A published name officially established according to ICBN rules. More compact, but you need to know the name to know which species are the parents.
Published hybrid name
The multiplication sign (× or just x) clarifies that it is a hybrid. Both notations are correct.
Overview of published hybrid names in Sarracenia
The table below (from Ellison et al., 2014) provides an overview of published hybrid names. The first column shows the hybrid name, the second the two parent species. The remaining columns indicate which names were recognized by which publications — because even here, botanists do not always agree.
Who determines which name is correct?
There is no law that enforces naming, but there are two international codes that are (reasonably) respected by scientists worldwide:
The standard work for botanical naming of wild plants. Contains rules for publication, priority, and validity of names. Periodically revised by an international committee.
Specifically for plants in cultivation that fall outside the regular hierarchical system. This is the code under which cultivar names are published, for selected cultivated forms such as Sarracenia flava 'Waccamaw'.
Cultivar names: selected cultivated forms
A cultivar is a plant that has been selected in cultivation for one or more particular characteristics. Think of an exceptionally large pitcher, a rare color pattern, or a special growth habit. To be published as a cultivar, the plant must meet three conditions:
- The plant is stable: the selected characteristic does not disappear with further cultivation
- The plant is uniform: all specimens of this cultivar exhibit the same characteristic
- The plant is distinguishable from other forms of the same species
- When propagated by the correct method (mentioned in the description), the plant retains its characteristics
- The cultivar name is always enclosed in single quotation marks — never italicized
Our plants: always correctly named
In our webshop, we consistently list the full scientific name, including subspecies, variety, or cultivar name where applicable. This way, you always know exactly what you are buying.
View our carnivorous plant selectionLiterature
- Barrie, F. R., et al. (2012). International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants (Melbourne Code) (Vol. 154). Koeltz Scientific Books.
- Brickell, C. D., et al. (2009). International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. Scripta Horticulturae 10.
- Christenhusz, M. J. (2013). The code decoded. A user's guide to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. Regnum Vegetabile 155.
- Ellison, A. M., Davis, C. C., Calie, P. J., & Naczi, R. F. (2014). Pitcher plants (Sarracenia) provide a 21st-century perspective on infraspecific ranks and interspecific hybrids. Systematic Botany, 39(3), 939–949.
🌿 Questions about nomenclature?
Do you come across a name in our shop or in your collection that you cannot identify? Send a message to killian@dupontflora.com, we are happy to help you.
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